1998 Lexus ES300

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/21/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION AS THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD FIGHTING THE BRAKE. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR HAD A LIFE OF ITS OWN OVERRIDING THE BRAKING ACTIONS I TRIED TO IMPLEMENT. I WAS PROCEEDING SLOWLY UP THE LONG NARROW DRIVEWAY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING PLACE THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE WALK-WAY. I SLOWLY TAPPED THE GAS ON MY LEXUS ES 300 AND THEN THE BRAKES. AS I MOVED MY FOOT OVER TO THE HIGHER LEVEL BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN--THE IGNITION/ACCELERATOR SYSTEM TOOK OVER THE CAR. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AS FIRMLY AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SIX WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.THE CAR JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A BLOCK WALL. IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE ACCELERATOR WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HIGH AND THERE WAS NO MISTAKING ONE PEDAL FOR ANOTHER. *TR

• 11/26/2001· AIR BAGS

  THE SRS (SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) FLASHING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO COME ON. WE DO NOT KNOW IF OUR AIRBAGS OR SELTBELTS WOULD WORK IN AN ACTUAL COLLISION. THE AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT NOTHING HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. ARE WE SAFE? *AK

• 11/25/2003· WHEELS

  WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

• 10/30/2008· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S, FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THAT DESTROYED VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ONLY PERSON IN CAR AND FROM THE SEAT/LAP BELT SUFFERED SEVER BRUISING ON TORSO, ABDOMEN AND THIGHS. LEFT KNEE BADLY BRUISED FROM CONTACT WITH STEERING COLUMN. THE SEAT/LAP BELT DID NOT FAIL. THE CAR WAS A 1998 LEXUS ES300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 157,000 MILES AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE STILL HAD SOME BRUISING BUT THE BRUISING WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE AND LESS PAINFUL AND HAD SHORTER RECOVERY TIME. 30 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I STILL HAVE BRUISES SHOWING AND HAVE SEVER LARGE LUMPS UNDER THE SKIN WHERE THE BRUISES EXISTED. I STILL HAVE MANY TENDER AND SORE AREAS FROM THE BRUISES. *TR

• 10/16/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE A 1998 LEXUS ES300. IN NOVEMBER 2003, MY CAR WAS SERVICED UNDER LEXUS' SPA PROGRAM DUE TO ENGINE OIL GELLING/SLUDGE. NOW, 3 YEARS LATER, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THIS IS A DIRECT AND CONSEQUENTIAL RESULT OF DRIVING THE CAR FOR 76K MILES WITH A GELLING ISSUE. THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE AND THIS WAS A LATENT DEFECT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND HAD IT SERVICED THREE WEEKS AGO, SPENT $700 ON IT, DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND 20 MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY NOW WANT $5K TO PUT A USED ENGINE IN IT WITH 130K MILES ON IT. LEXUS CORPORATION WAS USELESS AND THEY BASICALLY SAID NO MATTER IF THE SEIZE WAS CAUSED BY THE GELLING OR NOT, BECAUSE THE CAR HAD SO MANY MILES ON IT THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO "ASSIST". BEWARE OF LEXUS OF SEATTLE - THEY ARE CROOKS! *NM

• 10/01/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A MINOR CRASH. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO FUNCTION AS NORMAL. LATER IN THE DAY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH A FENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BUT WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

• 09/22/1999· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT; VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH OR MORE. PASSENGER WAS FORCED OVER TO DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIM.; SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

• 09/08/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  GAS TANK DOOR.

• 09/03/1999· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSING INJURIES TO PASSENGERS ELBOW, CHEST, NECK AND BACK, PASSENGER IN THE REAR ALSO SUSTAIN INJURY TO THE CHEST, NECK AND BACK FROM THE SEATBELT. NLM

• 08/27/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL CALL BACK. *MR *SCC *NLM

• 08/23/2013· SEAT BELTS

  BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE FAILED. I AM UNABLE TO INSERT BELTS INTO THE BUCKLE. CLEANING AND LUBE HAD NO AFFECT. *TR

• 08/19/1998· SUSPENSION

  POOR SUSPENSION RESULTING IN VIBRATION THAT DEGREES OF SWAYING TO MILD TO ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL.

• 07/29/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE LIGHTLY APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE SURGED SUDDENLY, RESULTING IN MINOR COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

• 07/07/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 1998 LEXUS ES WHILE BACKING INTO MY GARAGE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE GARAGE, DAMAGING BOTH THE CAR AND THE GARAGE. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT WAS CERTAINLY FRIGHTENED BY THE INCIDENT. I AM CERTAIN IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOOR MATS. I AM ALSO CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT PLACE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR ACCIDENTALLY, BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. *TR

• 06/24/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  THE PART WHICH REGULATED THE FLOW OF FUEL BURST, AND CAUSED FUEL TO FLOW FREELY OVER ENGINE. THE CONSUMER FEELS FELT THE FUEL PRESSURE DAMPNER WAS DEFECTIVE.*MR *TS *JB

• 06/22/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER 1998 LEXUS 300 ES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED KNOCKED AND DIED WHILE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD COMPLETELY SEIZED. THE REPAIR FACILITY RECOMMENDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN DEC 2004, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005 AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED OIL LEAKS AROUND THE VALVE COVER AND OIL PAN AREAS. THE BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

• 06/12/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCrash

  IGNITION KEY RELEASED, CAR PARKED IN DRIVE, ROLLED BACK AND HIT OTHER VEHICLE. KEY ALSO RELEASED IN REVERSE, DRIVE, AS WELL AS IN PARK . SHOULD ONLY RELEASE IN PARK.*AK

• 06/11/2013· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE ENGINE EVAP CANISTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

• 06/10/1999· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO LOOSEN AND RELIEF CONSUMER'S 8-YEAR OLD CHILD FROM SEAT. ALSO, HARNESS TIGHTENED UPON 8-YEAR OLD CHILD, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING. CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE STRAPS TO FREE THE CHILD. *AK

• 06/05/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE A 1998 LEXUS ES300 WITH APPROXIMATELY 115,000 ON THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON STATING THAT IT WAS EMISSIONS CODE P0466, WHICH IS A COMMON CHARCOAL CANNISTER PROBLEM FOR LEXUS ES300 1996 AND UP. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR 1996-1998 LEXUS ES300 FOR THE EMISSION PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDES THE P0466 PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO GET THAT EMISSIONS PROBLEM FIX, BUT THEY SAID THAT NOT ALL OF THE 1998 LEXUS ES300 WAS INCLUDED IN THIS WARRANTY AND MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE CARS THAT WAS IN THAT CATEGORY. SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY STATED THAT 96-98 LEXUS ES300 ARE COVERED, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED SINCE IT'S A 1998 LEXUS ES300? *TR

• 06/03/2004· SEATSFire

  I HAVE A 1998 LEXUS ES300. THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING. BALISE LEXUS, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, EXPLAINED THERE WAS A BROKEN WIRE IN HEATING GRID AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $500.00, FOR PARTS AND LABOR. MY MECHANIC DISASSEMBLED THE SEAT AND FOUND THE WIRE HAD FRAYED AND SHORTED OUT WHEN IT STARTED ON FIRE. IT HAD BURNT PART OF THE HEATING GRID, THE FOAM IT WAS ATTACHED TO AND THE INSIDE OF THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY. I SHOWED THIS HEATING GRID TO THE LEXUS DEALER, WHO REPLIED, " THE HEATING GRIDS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 3-5 YEARS." I WOULD THINK THAT A FUSE WOULD SHORT OUT, OR A LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD ALERT YOU TO A MALFUNCTION. I DEFINETELY WOULDN'T EXPECT A FIRE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE AND EVEN SEVERE BODILY INJURY. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT HEATING GRID FOR $204.80. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REINBURSED AND A SEFETY FEATURE OF SOME SORT SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN FUTURE MODELS. WHAT CAN I DO? THANK YOU FOR ANY ADVISE. *JB

• 05/24/2014· TIRES

  MAY 17, 2014 TRAVELING ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE AFTER TWO HOURS HAD TWO TIRES SEPARATE. REPLACED TWO TIRES IN PALM BEACH GARDENS AND CONTINUED ANOTHER HOUR WHEN A THIRD TIRE SEPARATED. TIRES WERE ALL COOPER CS4 P205/65R15. IN KEY WEST REPLACED THE REMAINING FAILED TIRE AND THE SO FAR FOURTH REMAINING COOPER TIRE. WAS NOT ABLE TO RETAIN THE SEPARATED TIRES AS WAS 200 MILES FROM HOME WITH PACKED CAR. *TR

• 05/13/1999· SEAT BELTS

  AFTER UNBUCKLING BELT, SEATBELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO OPERATE OR OPERATES SO SLOWLY THAT BELT LATCH INTERFERES WITH CLOSING OF DOOR. DOOR CLOSES ON UNRETRACTED CHROME LATCH DEVICE OF BELT, DAMAGING SEATBELT, LATCH, AND PLASTIC BUTTON EMBEDDED IN BELT. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE BELT/RETRACTOR. EVERY ES300 I HAVE SEEN HAS THIS PROBLEM, AND EVIDENCE OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO INNER PADDED DOOR PANEL AND STEEL DOOR FRAME. (EVEN DEALER'S LOANER VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 11K MILES, HAD THE DAMAGE AND BELT'S PLASTIC BUTTON COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. ALL 1997 AND 1998 LEXUS ES300 MODELS HAVE THE PROBLEM RETRACTORS. UNSURE WHETHER PROBLEM EXISTS IN 1999 MODELS. *AK

• 05/06/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE PARKING VEHICLE SURGED, JUMPED A CURB, AND RAN INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. *AK

• 04/18/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE AIRBAGS IN MY WIFE'S 1998 LEXUS ES300 NOT DEPLOYING WHEN IN A FULL FRONTAL ACCIDENT AT 35-45 MPH. *JB

• 04/01/2004· TIRES

  DEFECTIVE RIMS THAT ALLOW THE TIRES TO LEAK AIR. AFTER THAT HAPPENED MANY TIMES, WE BOUGHT NEW TIRES THINKING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS CONTINUED . THIS IS A CONCERN AND WANT TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS . OTHER THAN THAT THE LEXUS IS A GREAT CAR. *AK *MR

• 03/19/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (DAMPER) FAILED ALLOWING FUEL TO FLOW INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FUMES THROUGH AIR INTAKE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS FIRE IF NOT DETECTED IN TIME AND REPAIRED.

• 03/14/2011· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT RETRACTION FAILURE. THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1998 LEXUS HAD BEEN SLOW TO RETRACT, SOMETIMES NOT RETRACT AT ALL. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS MODEL OR YEAR. MANY OTHER VEHICLES MADE BY TOYOTA AND LEXUS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (BASED ON SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET). THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN COMPONENTS OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *TR

• 03/01/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 LEXUS ES300. WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BREAKING HER HAND IN TWO PLACES. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54753 UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB WHEN THE CONSUMER APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. HER RIGHT HAND WAS BROKEN IN THREE PLACES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS ALSO HURT. THE CONSUMER RAISED THE QUESTION OF TOYOTA'S SOFTWARE DESIGN OF THE CONTROLS. UPDATED 06/01/10.

• 02/26/2002· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A LEAK IN SHOCK ABSORBER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 02/24/2010· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I HAVE PERIODICALLY COMPLAINED TO MY TOYOTA OF TUCSON (AUTO MALL) SERVICE DEPT. THAT MY '98 ES300 PERIODICALLY PRODUCES INTENSE GASOLINE ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, MANY MONTHS APART. THE FUMES SEEM TO BE SWEPT IN THROUGH A/C OR HEATING VENTS, AND CAN CONTINUE FOR THE DURATION OF A LOCAL DRIVE, ONLY TO DISAPPEAR THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW ANY PATTERN -- NOT JUST AFTER FILL-UP; NOT JUST AT START-UP; NOT JUST WHEN ENGINE HOT OR COLD. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED NO FIX. NOW, WITH LONG-KNOWN TOYOTA PROBLEMS BEGINNING TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COMPANY, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS, IN FACT, SOME CORPORATE OR NHTSA AWARENESS OF A GAS LEAK ISSUE. *TR

• 02/01/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DISC BRAKE PAD FAILED.

• 02/01/1999· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WASHER HOSE IS DEFECTIVE. YH

• 02/01/1999· SEATS

  REAR SEAT BACK BRACE WORKED LOOSE CAUSING NOISE. YH

• 02/01/1999· TIRES

  TIRE FAILED, FLATTENED WHILE DURING ON FREEWAY. P205/65R 15924 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE88. YH

• 02/01/1999· WHEELS

  RIGHT TIRE FAILED DUE TO LEAK IN THE WHEEL RIM, ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE YH

• 02/01/1999· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN YOU TAKE IT OFF, PREVENTS CLOSURE OF DOOR. *YC

• 02/01/1999· SUSPENSION

  SUSPENSION FAILURE. *YC

• 02/01/1999· SEATS

  COMPUTER FOR FRONT SEAT FAILED. *YC

• 02/01/1999· STEERING

  ALARM SYSTEM FAILED.

• 02/01/1999· SEATS

  SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR FAILED.

• 02/01/1999· VISIBILITY

  MIRROR MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

• 02/01/1999· AIR BAGS

  DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. YH

• 02/01/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WHEEL BEARING FAILED. YH

• 02/01/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE DASHBOARD CRACKED. YH

• 01/31/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ALL THE TAIL LIGHT WERE OFF AND I FOUND THE FUSE FOR TAIL LIGHT WAS BLEW. SO I REPLACED THE FUSE. NEXT DAY,WHEN I TURNED ON HEADLIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 680, THE "R" INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD BECAME ON AS WELL -- NOW BOTH "D" AND "R" WERE ON. IT PUZZLED ME FOR AWHILE SO I DECIDED TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHT. AS SOON AS THE HEADLIGHT WAS TURNED OFF , THE CAR "HESITATED" ON FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE WHO CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. AFTER 3 DAYS OF SERVICES, THEY SAID SOME WIRES WERE CROSSED AND CHARGED $581 FOR REPLACING THOSE FAULTY WIRES AND ONE CONTROLLER. THE CAR IS ONLY 13 YEAR OLD AND ABOUT 100 K MILES. I WOULD DEFINITELY CLASSIFY THIS ACCIDENT AS A DEFECT BY MANUFACTURE. I WANT TO FILE THIS COMPLIANT TO SEE ANY OTHER ES300 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH PROBLEM. *TT

• 01/25/2011· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED HIS VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT HIM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 09/19/11

• 01/22/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRICITY DISCHARGES FROM IGNITION KEY AREA ON STEERING COLUMN AND DOOR AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING VEHICLE. I TOOK CAR IN TO SUPERIOR LEXUS TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT. I CONTINUE TO GET ELECTRICAL SHOCKS FROM MY 1998 LEXUS ES300 TODAY.

• 01/19/1999· AIR BAGS

  WHILE TRAVELING AT 10MPH VEHICLE HIT A CURB, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. A CHEMICAL RELEASED BY THE AIR BAGS CAUSED INJURY TO THE PASSENGER'S EYES. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS ALSO SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 01/16/2020· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  SINCE MAY OF 2019 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THE OBD READER KEEPS DETECTING A TROUBLE CODE. WHEN MOVING BACK TO CALIFORNIA, I HAD TO REREGISTERED FOR CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATES, TAGS, AND GET MY CAR SMOGGED WITH MY SMOG CERTIFICATION IN ORDER FOR ME TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY INTO MY CAR THAT IT'S AFFECTING ME FROM GETTING TO WORK/ SCHOOL AND TAKING DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AS WELL. EVERY TIME I GET SOMETHING FIXED AND DRIVE THE MILES I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING, THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH A TROUBLE CODE. THIS IS AFFECTING ME BECAUSE I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT STILL WON'T PASS SMOG. IT'S BEEN GOING ON QUITE FOR SOME TIME.